Fumigant properties of physical preparations from mountain big sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. vaseyana (Rydb.) beetle for stored grain insects

Vapors released from foliage of mountain big sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle, through a patented process, were hypothesized to have an insecticidal time of action (24 h or less after time of exposure) similar to the fumigant methyl bromide. Patented preparations were more effective from plants harvested from a relatively wet site in mid to late summer (5 July to 11 September). Bioassays with the lesser grain borer, Rhyzophertha dominica (F.), 0-3 days after adult emergence indicated an LT50 of 7.0 +/- 1.2 h for the volatiles generated from only 30 mg dry processed plant material (= 0.56 mg active ingredients) per mi headspace. Hatching of eggs of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), was completely suppressed when exposed 4-20 h after oviposition to a concentration of 7 mg processed plant material per mi headspace (= 0.14 mg active ingredients) in a container that allowed passive diffusion and from which the terpenes disappeared by 48 h. Adult red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), had an LT50 of 40.7 +/- 1.2 h when exposed to 29 mg processed plant material per mi headspace. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses of the headspace above this processed plant material revealed five major peaks, all non-chlorinated and non-brominated. The two main volatiles, 1,8-cineole and camphor, occurred initially in a mean ratio of 1:3.2, gradually shifting to 1:2.4 over 24 h. The mu g/ mi headspace of each detectable compound in a sealed container was followed intensely (0.25, 1, 2, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h) for 72 h and at less frequent intervals for 60 days. The active compounds released by the plant material in a closed, but not airtight container, were no longer detectable after 2 1 h based on GC/MS analysis. Fumigative studies with the same ratio of the two main compounds generated synthetically indicated that embryos of P. interpunctella and adults of R. dominica were as sensitive to the synthetic mixture as they were to the processed plant material; Although one could apply the precise commercial terpenes in the same ratio, the plant material provides a natural formulation that is conveniently diluted (formulated) to levels safe for handling. Therefore, this preparation method and plant material shows good potential as an alternative to methyl bromide for protection of stored grain, commodity, and space fumigations. No residues are detectable in the headspace of aerated commodity, milled product, or in fumigated space. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.